In Inoa, Oakland has its sweet 16

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, July 3, 2008

Photo: Victor Perez, ESPNdeportes.com

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16-year-old right-handed pitcher Dominican Republic pitcher Michael Inoa signed with the Oakland Athletics for $4.4 million. The 6-foot-7 pitcher's signing is a result of Oakland's plan to increase international scouting. Photo Courtesy of Victor Perez / ESPNdeportes.com less

16-year-old right-handed pitcher Dominican Republic pitcher Michael Inoa signed with the Oakland Athletics for $4.4 million. The 6-foot-7 pitcher's signing is a result of Oakland's plan to increase ... more

Photo: Victor Perez, ESPNdeportes.com

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From left to right, Raymond Abreu, Oakland Athletics' director of Latin America operations, Billy Beane, Oakland Athletics' Vice President and General Manager, 16-year-old pitching prospect Michael Inoa and Edgar Mercedes, pose for the photographers after signing a contract in Santo Domingo, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. The Oakland Athletics and prized Dominican Michael Inoa agreed Wednesday to a minor league contract with a $4.25 million signing bonus. (AP Photo) less

From left to right, Raymond Abreu, Oakland Athletics' director of Latin America operations, Billy Beane, Oakland Athletics' Vice President and General Manager, 16-year-old pitching prospect Michael Inoa and ... more

Photo: Ap Photo, AP

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16-year-old right-handed pitcher Dominican Republic pitcher Michael Inoa signed with the Oakland Athletics for $4.4 million. The 6-foot-7 pitcher's signing is a result of Oakland's plan to increase international scouting. Photo Courtesy of Victor Perez / ESPNdeportes.com less

16-year-old right-handed pitcher Dominican Republic pitcher Michael Inoa signed with the Oakland Athletics for $4.4 million. The 6-foot-7 pitcher's signing is a result of Oakland's plan to increase ... more

Photo: Victor Perez, ESPNdeportes.com

In Inoa, Oakland has its sweet 16

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When the A's finished one game out of last place last year, general manager Billy Beane said the team planned to beef up its international scouting and investment to help replenish the farm system.

Oakland crowned its vigorous efforts overseas Wednesday by landing Michael Inoa, a 6-foot-7 right-hander who has been called a once-in-a-decade-type talent and who has been compared to Seattle's Felix Hernandez in terms of his potential impact.

"It's awesome," said Eric Chavez, the A's longest-tenured player. "This is something we rarely do, and it speaks volumes about ownership and how committed they are. It's pretty amazing."

The A's deal with the 16-year-old includes a $4.25 million signing bonus, the largest amount Oakland ever has paid an amateur player, surpassing Mark Mulder's $3.2 million in 1998. The bonus is the most ever given a non-Cuban prospect from Latin America, topping the $2.44 million the Yankees gave Wily Mo Peña in 1999.

Inoa, who throws in the mid-90s and has a good curveball and changeup, had offers that topped $5 million from two other clubs, Texas and Cincinnati. On the phone from the Dominican Republic, he said he chose the A's because "they treated me well. There was something that felt different with Oakland."

Inoa said he also was attracted by the A's record of developing pitchers, especially hard-throwers Rich Harden and Tim Hudson.

"We looked at the different teams to look at what they did with pitching, because that's really important for a 6-foot-7 pitcher who has to be so coordinated," said Edgar Mercedes, who runs the baseball academy that Inoa attended and helped with some translation in the phone interview. "We liked that with the A's, every pitcher has his own delivery, his own style, but Oakland helped them to refine what they do best."

Until now, Inoa has been known by his given name, Michel, but the A's have encouraged him to use "Michael," and he told The Chronicle that is OK with him.

In recent years, the team had gotten away from heavy international scouting, and reliever Santiago Casilla is the only Latin American player on the roster originally signed by the A's. After Beane pledged to increases international operations at the end of last season, the team signed numerous prospects in the Dominican and one in Mexico this winter, including outfielder Robin Rosario, who received a then-Oakland record $350,000.

The A's were known for drafting lower-risk college pitchers for much of the past decade; college pitchers are closer to making the majors and there's lots of data available on them. A 16-year-old pitcher is much less of a sure thing, although one major-league executive said this week, "If you're going to spend this kind of money, he's the one to give it to. He will pitch in the major leagues."

Beane said that the A's have cut back on big-league payroll in order to better fund the infrastructure. He called the $4.25 million for Inoa a superior investment to adding a $4 million free agent for a year. Right now, Inoa would be a top-15 draft pick if he were a U.S. player; by the time he's 18, he'd be among the top five picks, Beane said. Those spots get bonuses of $4 million-plus.

The A's plan to leave Inoa in the Dominican this year to work at the team's complex in La Victoria. He'll be in Oakland for a physical in the next month or so, but he is unlikely to go to the instructional league in the fall.

Beane described Inoa as being built like a power forward and he said that there's thought that he could add another inch or two. Asked if the A's are certain that Inoa is 16, Beane explained that the verification procedures in the Dominican are much more stringent now. Inoa turns 17 on Sept. 24.

Mercedes, who coordinated Inoa's negotiations, will serve as his personal manager.

"Michel is a very calm person," Mercedes said. "Nothing troubles him or makes his heart beat any faster."

It's a big deal

Big guy: Michael Inoa is a 6-foot-7, 16-year-old pitcher.

Big money: Inoa signed for $4.25 million. Previously, the biggest A's amateur bonus went to Mark Mulder for $3.2 million.

Big love: Inoa said the personal involvement of A's general manager Billy Beane was key to his deciding to sign with Oakland. Beane made three trips to the Dominican to see Inoa, and visited him in his hometown of Puerto Plata and got to know Inoa's family. Owners Lew Wolff and John Fisher also traveled to the Dominican to visit Inoa.

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